Collapsible box



July 6, 1943. KRETCHMER I 2,323,782

GOLLAPS IBLE BOX 1 Filed Sept. 14, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR MUEQAY KEU'U/MER %TTORNEY July 6, 1943;

M. KRETCHMER COLLAPS IBLE BOX 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 14, 1939 ATTO RN EY Patented July 6, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT oFncE' COLLAPSIBLE BOX Murray Kretchmer, New York, N. Y.

Application September 14, 1939, Serial No. 294,845

7 Claims. (Cl. 229-36) I This invention relates to collapsible boxes.

An object of this invention is to provide a box of the character described, which may be made of a single blank of corrugated cardboard, cardboard, fiberboard, paper, or the like sheet material, having triple thickness at the sides and double thickness at thev ends, whereby to strengthen and rigidify the box, and to permit stacking of filled boxes without collapsing of the boxes, the construction being such that no strings or staples are necessary to retain the boxes in set up position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a box of the character described, having a pair of top covers, provided with handles, and means to lock the handles together for drawing the top covers together and preventing opening of the .covers, whereby the handles rigidity the box, said handles furthermore being in face to face relation, thereby producing a handle of double thickness, the handles furthermore being relatively wide at the point of junction of the handles to the cover to prevent the handles from tearing away, the interlocking means furthermore serving to cover the crack between the handles and sealing the cover.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide in a box of the character described, a pair of overlapping cover members extending from opposite sides toward each other, one of the covers being provided with hooks to engage within slits in the other cover to hold the cover against opening up and to strengthen the box.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a box of the character described, having a pair of top covers provided with mutually contacting handles, said handles being adapted to be flattened down against one of the covers to permit the boxes to be stacked.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide in a box of the character described, a bottom wall and side walls and flaps extending from the ends of the side walls and adapted to interlock, and end walls extending from the bottom wall adapted to be folded upwardly against the interlocked flaps and carrying cover sections adapted to overlap at the top of the box, and the cover sections being provided with flaps adapted to engage the side walls of the box.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a relatively strong and durable collapsible box of the character described, which shall be relatively inexpensive .to manufacture, which shall necessitate a minimum of sheet material, which shall be easy to set up and collapse,

which may be made of lighter paper or cardboard because of its rigidity, and which shall yet be practical and eflicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible box embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on lin 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken online 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a blank from which the improved box is made;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the box partly set up;

Fig. 5a is a. partial view of Fig. 5, but illustrating a modified construction;

Fig. 5b is a view similar to Fig. 5a, and illustrating a still further modified construction;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a box embodying the invention, and illustrating a modified construction;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the blank from which the box shown in Fig. 6 is made; I

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the boxshown in Fig. 6,-partly set up;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a box embodying the invention, and illustrating a .still further modified construction;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on line I IIH of Fig. 10; i

Fig. 12 is a top view of the'blank showing the box of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the box shown in Fig. 10, partially set up.-

Referring now in detail to the drawings, i0 designates a box embodying the invention, made from a single blank ll of paper cardboard, corrugated cardboard, fiberboard, or the like sheet material.

The blank ll comprises a central section l2 constituting the bottom wall of the box. Extending from the sides of section l2 are similar sections i3, l3a adapted to be folded upwardly to lugs, to form end walls for the box.

Extending from the ends of sections I3 are flaps I6 formed with slits I1; and extending from the ends of sections I3a are flaps I8 formed with hooks I9 adapted to be received within the slits I1 of flap It. The flaps I6, I8 are the same height as side walls I3, I3a.

In setting up-the box, the sections I3, I3a are first folded upwardly and then the flaps I6 and I8 are folded toward each other into alignment, and the hooks I9 engageslits l1. The interlocked flaps I6 and I8 thus maintain the walls I3, I3a in vertical position.

Extending from the outer ends of sections I3, I3a are narrow flaps 23 adapted to be folded downwardly into horizontal position to underlie cover flaps, to be described hereinafter.

Extending from the sections I4, I4a. are overlapping sections 24, 24a adapted to be folded down over the top of the box and constituting cover sections for the box. Section 24 isformed with a trapezoidal hole or cut-out 25 parallel to the outer edge thereof. The opening or hole 25 has parallel edges 25a and 25b, parallel to the outer edge of section 24 and also outwardly inclined edges 250 at the ends of said hole. Section 24 is also formed with inwardly inclined edges 26 extending to the outer end of said section forming with the opening 25a, a handle member 21 which may be folded about crease lines 28, to upstanding position relative to section 24. Adjacent the edges 26 are hooks 30, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Section 24a is formed with inwardly inclined slits 32, similar to the inclined edges 26. Said section 24a is also formed with a slit 33 registering with the edge 25a of the hole 25. Said section is also formed with outwardly inclined slits 34 registering with the inclined edges 250 of the hole 25. The slits 32, 33, 34 form a handle member 210 similar to the handle 21, adapted to be folded about crease lines 36 to an upstanding position relative to section 24a, into fac to face contact with saidhandle'21.

The dove-tail portion 38 bounded by the slits 33, 34 forms an interlocking tab, which passes through the dove-tail hole 25 to draw the cover.

members 24, 24a together, and to lock the handles 21, 21a into mutually contacting position. Section 24a is formed with a pair of inclined slits 40 adapted to receive the hooks 30 of section 24 for further locking the cover sections 24, 24a together.

As shown in the drawings, the cover sections 24, 24a overlap, and the handles 21, 21a are positioned on the longitudinal mid portion of the box, so that 'said handles will come into face to face relation when the box is set up.

Extending from the ends of sections 24, 24a are flaps 43 provided with hooks 44 adapted to engage in the slits l3b. The hooks 44 are located adjacent the outer ends of the flaps 43, and are of such width as to contact the bottom of the box. Thus the flaps 43 on each side of the box overlap, and the hooks 44 thereof pass through the single slit I3b.

.into the box. Thereafter, the other pair of flaps I6, I8 may be interlocked and the other cover folded into position to complete closure of the box.

The hooks 30 engaging in the slits 40 serve to strengthen and rigidify the box, and are particularly useful for wide boxes.

It will be noted that no strings or staples are necessary to maintain the box in set up condition. The handles draw the top covers of the box together, thus preventing opening up of the box. The handles furthermore rigidify the box and are strong because they are double. The dove-tail tab or portion 38 interlocks the handles, draws the covers together, and covers up the crack between the handles to seal the box.

If desired, the outer edges 26, 32 of the handles 21, 21a may be parallel instead of inclined. It will be noted that the base of the handles are relatively wide, thus producing strong handles. Since the box 'is strong and rigid, it may be made of thinner cardboard. The invention disclosed herein may be embodied in egg boxes, cake boxes, or boxes for any other suitable purposes.

In Fig. 5a there is shown a box Ifla, similar to box ID, with the exception that the hooks 44a on flaps 43 are at the inner ends of the flaps, instead of at the outer ends of the flaps.

In Fig. 5?) there is shown a box Iflb, similar to box I0, with the exception that on each flap 43 are a pair of books 44b engaged within a pair of slits 50 in the side sections I3, I 3a and replacing the slits I3b.

In Figs. 6 to 9 there is shown a box Ilc, similar to box Ilia, with the exception that there is substituted for the interlocking flaps I6, I3 on said box Illa, flaps 53 extending from the ends of each of sections I4, I41: having hooks 53a thereon engaging in slits 54 in sections I3, I311. When the box is set up, the hooks 53a are engaged in the slits 54 to maintain the sections I3, I 3a, I4, I4a in vertical upstanding position.

In Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13 there is shown a box IIld, embodying the invention, similar to box Illa, with the exception that in box IIld the sections I 3 and I3a are attached to sections I4, Ila by means of triangular corner tabs 55 at the ends of sections I4, l4a pasted to the insides of the ends of sections I3, Ila.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various tions extending upwardly from the sides of the It will now be understood that the boxhas bottom section, and formed with slits, end sections extending upwardly from the ends of said bottom section, cover sections extending from the end sections, said cover sections being provided with mutually contacting, upstanding handles, and fiapsat the ends of said cover sections having portions enga ng in the slits of the side sections, one of said handles being formed with a finger opening, the other of said handles being formed with a finger opening registering with the first opening, one cover section having a tab projecting through the opening in the handle carried by the second cover section and overlying said second cover section, said tab having means to engage edge portions of the handle carried by the second cover section at the ends of the opening therein, to interlock the handles together, said second cover section having portions overlying the first cover section and engaging end edges of the handle carried by the first cover section to interlock said handles, and said first cover section being formed with slits, and said second cover section being formed with portions engaging within said slits.

2. A box comprising a bottom section, side sections extending upwardly from the sides of the bottom section, and formed with slits, end sections extending upwardly from the ends of said bottom section, a pair of fiaps extending from the ends of each side section and contacting the inner surfaces of said end sections, at least one flap on one side section having means to interlock with one fiap on the other side section, cover sections extending from the end sections, said cover sections being provided with mutually contacting, upstanding handles, and flaps at the ends of said cover sections having portions engaging in the slits of the side sections, one of said handles being formed with a finger opening, the other of said handles being formed with a finger opening registering with the first opening, one cover section having a tab projecting through the opening in the handle carried by the second cover section and overlying said second cover section, said tab having means to engage edge portions of the handle carried by the second cover section at the ends of the opening therein, to interlock the handles together, said second cover section having portions overlying the first cover section and engaging end edges of the ban dle carried by the first cover section to interlock said handles, and said first cover section being formed with slits, andsaid second cover section being formed with portions engaging within said slits.

3. A box comprising a bottom section, side sections extending upwardly from the sides of the bottom section, and formed with slits, end sections extending upwardly from the ends of said bottom section, cover sections extending from the end sections, said cover sections being provided with mutually contacting, upstanding'handles, and flaps at the ends of said cover sections having portions engaging in the slits of the side sections, one of said handles being formed with a finger opening, the other of said handles being formed with a finger opening registering with the first opening, one cover section having a tab projecting through the opening in the handle carried by the second cover section and overlying said second cover section, said tab having means to engage edge portions of the handle carried by the second cover section at the ends of the opening therein, to interlock the handles together, said second cover section having portions overlying the first cover section and engaging end edges of the handle carriedby the first cover section to interlock said handles, and said first cover section being formed with slits,

and said second cover section being formed with portions engagingwithin said slits, the flaps on one cover section overlapping the flaps on the other cover section.

4. A box comprising a bottom section, side sections extending upwardlyi'rom the sides of the bottom section, and formed with slits, end sections extending upwardly from-the ends of said bottom section, cover sections extending from the end sections, said cover sections being provided with mutually contacting, upstanding handles, and fiaps at the ends of said cover sections having portions engaging in the slits of the side sections, one of said handles being formed with a finger opening, the other of said handles being formed with a finger opening registering with the first opening, one cover section having a tab projecting through the opening in the handle carried by the second cover section and overlying said second cover section, said tab having means.

to engage edge portions of the handle carried bythe second cover section at the ends of the opening therein, to interlock the handles together, said second cover section having portions overlying the first cover section and engaging end edges of the handle carried by the first cover section to interlock said handles, and said first cover section being formed with slits, and said second cover section being formed with portions engaging within said slits, the flaps on one cover section overlapping the flaps on the other cover section, said flaps on the cover sections extending down to the bottom section.

5. A box comprising a bottom section, side sections extending upwardly from the sides of the bottom section, and formed with slits, end sections extending upwardly from the ends of said bottom section, cover sections extending from the end sections, cover sections being provided with mutually contacting, upstanding handles, and flaps at the ends oi. said cover sections having portions engaging in the slits of the side sections, one of said handles being formed with a finger opening, the other of said handles being formed with a finger opening registering with the first opening, one cover section having a tab projecting through the opening in the handle carried by the second cov'er section and overlying said second cover section, said tab having means to engage edge portions of the handle carried by the second cover section at the ends of the opening therein, to interlock the handles together, said second cover section having portions overlying the first cover section and engaging end edges of the handle carried by the first cover section to interlock said handles, and said first cover section being formed with slits, and said second cover section being formed with portions engaging within said slits, the slit engaging portions of thev fiaps which extend from each cover section being located between the handles and the end sections from which the other cover section extends.

6. A box comprising a bottom section, side sections extending upwardly from the sides of'the bottom section, and formed with slits, end sections extending upwardly from the ends of said bottom section, cover sections extending from the first opening. one cover section having a tab projecting through the opening in the handle,

the opening therein, to interlock the handles together. said second cover section having portions overlying the first coversection and engaging end edges of the handle carried by the first cover section to interlock said handles, and said first cover section being formed with slits,'and said second cover section being formed with portions engaging within said slits, the flaps on one cover section overlapping the flaps on the other cover section, the slit engaging portions of the flaps which extend from each cover section being located between the handles and the end sections from which the other section extends.

7. A box comprising a bottom section, side sections extending upwardly from the sides of the bottom section, and formed with slits, end sections extending upwardly from the ends of said bottom section, cover sections extending from the end sections, said cover sections being provided with mutually contacting, upstanding handies, and flaps at the ends of said cover sections having portions engaging in the slits or the side sections, one oi! said handles being i'ormedwith a finger opening, the other of said handles being formed with a finger opening registering with the first opening. one cover section having a tab projecting through the opening in the handle carried by the second cover section and overlying said second cover section, said tab having means to engage edge portions of the handle carried by the second cover section at the ends of the opening therein, to interlock the handles together, said second cover section having portions overlying the first cover section and engaging end edges 01 the handle carried by the first cover section to interlock said handles, and said first cover section being formed with slits, and said second cover section being formed with portions engaging within said slits, and flaps extending from the ends of said side section and contacting the inner surfaces of the end sections, the flaps on one side section having means interlock the flaps on the other side section. i

MURRAY KRETCHMER. 

